Public Safety
El Niño Winter Flood Risk: Northern California Coastal Areas Identified as Most Vulnerable
A UC Davis study identifies specific Northern California coastal areas most at risk of flooding this winter due to El Niño conditions, including Santa Cruz beaches, SFO and Oakland airports, Alviso in San Jose, Highway 37 from Vallejo to Novato, Stinson Beach, and Humboldt Bay. Sea levels are expected to be 2 to 3 feet higher than normal, and NOAA reported on Oct. 8 a 100% chance of strong El Niño conditions through March with an 83% probability it ranks as the strongest since 1950. The riskiest periods coincide with King Tides around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Martin Luther King Jr. weekend. Experts say residents can prepare with sandbags and storm drain cleaning, but long-term federal and state investment in billions is needed to address rising sea levels.